The Bet: A Bully Romance(32)

Sebastian gives me a knowing grin. “It’ll be fine. Dad is so excited to see you, I think he just about had a heart attack when I told him you were coming.”

I playfully punch him in the arm. “Don’t say that.”

“What? He did...I was actually worried, and then he started talking again and I knew he was fine.” We both laugh, and then the laughter ceases when we pull into the driveway.

Sebastian puts the SUV in park and kills the engine. I stare at the house. The large brick house looks the same as it did the day I left, the outside still the same natural stone, the door the same dark cream color. There’s even a weathered welcome sign stuck to the garage. The cracks in the driveway are still there, it's the same driveway I colored with chalk on so many years ago. The memories this place holds almost bring me to tears.

“Everything will be fine. It's just dinner.”

I know it's just dinner, but is it really? At the end of the day, this is Remington's family, not mine. The sound of a door opening catches my attention and I realize Sebastian is already getting out of the car.

Shit. This is it. The moment where I put a target on my back again. I climb out of the car. My legs are shaky, the nervous knot inside my belly unraveling, leaving a trail of fear behind. I walk around the car where Sebastian is waiting for me.

“I'm nervous,” I blurt out right as his hand grabs onto mine.

“Don't be. I'll kick his ass if he says anything.” I give him a weak smile, and together we walk up the driveway and to the front door. Sebastian doesn’t knock, he twists the knob and opens the door. As soon as the door opens, I’m pulled back in time to one of the many memories I shared with Remington in this house.

Opening the sliding glass door, I tiptoe into the house. Remington. That’s who I need right now. I know Papa Miller isn’t home, he’s on a business trip which means Alexander would be watching over his brothers if he was even home. Remmy said that he went to a lot of parties.

“You’re a cheater, a fucking cheater…” Sebastian’s angry voice fills my ears, and I hurry to see what is going on. As soon as I enter the living room, I find Remmy grinning like a fool at his brother. They’re playing on the Xbox. As soon as Remmy notices me, he bounds from the couch and over to me.

“What’s wrong, Jules?” His eyes bleed into mine, and concern etches into his features. His hands reach for me, pulling me into his chest like he knows what I need, probably because he always knows what I need. Tears start to fall from my eyes without hesitation.

“I’m going to bed, Seb,” Remmy announces.

“Is she okay?” Sebastian's tone tells me he too is worried. It isn’t often I come over here crying or after ten pm.

“She will be,” Remmy answers, and picks me up like a small child, carrying me down the hall and into his bedroom. I feel so safe in his arms, not that I wasn’t safe at home, my parents never hurt me, but their fighting was constant, and it wracked every nerve ending in my body. As soon as we’re alone in his bedroom with the door closed, he places me on the bed. I can hear him rustling around, probably looking for PJs or something.

“What happened?” he asks a moment later.

I bite my bottom lip and wonder if I should really tell him. He’s my best friend, yes, but he’s always teasing me and making fun of me. He would probably just call me a baby, tell me to grow a thicker skin.

When I don’t answer him, he turns on the bedside lamp, a soft glow of light blankets us and my cheeks heat when I see that he’s taken off his shirt and slipped into a pair of flannel sleep pants. My eyes roam over his body, his muscles are toned, more definite. He’s changed so much over the last two years and I would be lying if I said I didn’t notice it.

There were many times I wanted his hands on me, in much different ways.

“Jules, what the hell happened?” he asks again, this time with more urgency.

“My parents. They’re fighting again. I can’t sleep, and I don’t want to be alone.” I feel the stupid tears stinging my eyes.

“Where’s Jackson?”

I shrug, “I don’t know. He doesn’t want to be home any more than I do. The only difference is he can drive, and I can’t.” My response must suffice enough because he doesn’t say anything else about it.

“Scoot over.” He nudges my PJ covered legs and I do as he says. My heart starts to beat out of my chest as he crawls into the bed and turns off the light.

When he reaches for me and pulls me into his side, a zing pulses through me. Why is this so different tonight? We’ve done this numerous times since we were small kids.

“You’ll never be alone, Jules. Never,” he whispers into my hair and I swear I feel his lips against my forehead. His skin is so warm, and I burrow into his side, wrapping an arm around his middle, relishing in the feeling of his bare warm skin against mine.

“Why’s that?” I whisper back, already knowing his answer.

“Because you’ll always have me,” he whispers.

“Jules? You okay?” Sebastian’s voice finds me through the foggy memory. I gulp, realizing we’re standing in the foyer.

“Jules? You seriously brought her here?” Remington's deep, very angry voice finds me next and when I lift my gaze from the floor, I see him, standing there, an angry Greek god, with piercing blue eyes and dark brown hair.